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kendallthefire's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 stars
Listen. I. KNOW. THE WRITING . WAS. FLAWED. I still could not tell you what the magic system is or really who/why the bad persons are the bad people (although that may be intentional) but I devoured it in one sitting nonetheless. Don't yuck my yum.
Ramblings of a madwoman who is quite forgetful and will inevitably need a refresher of the whole plot at one point or another
Listen. I. KNOW. THE WRITING . WAS. FLAWED. I still could not tell you what the magic system is or really who/why the bad persons are the bad people (although that may be intentional) but I devoured it in one sitting nonetheless. Don't yuck my yum.
Ramblings of a madwoman who is quite forgetful and will inevitably need a refresher of the whole plot at one point or another
Spoiler
So savannah is a "human" who is a waitress in Belmont, Wisconsin. One night she gets attacked and almost kidnapped by werewolves for unknown reasons. She is thrust into a world of magic because she killed one of her attackers. The alpha wolf of Chicago, Jaxson Laurent, cringe... seriously why is every male werewolf a Jaxson with an X. i cant. where are the matthews or johns. not everyone needs a unique name.i dont know. i digress)is in town to catch her as well because he apparently was told by a seer that she is the key to the survival or destruction of his pack. anyway he tries to tell her what to do by using his alpha mojo and it works a little but she can get out of it easier than anybody else( i wonder why... could they be true mates????? {said with all the sarcasm i can muster}) so whenever he tells her to do something she ends up disobeying, ignoring or completely doing the exact opposite of what he has ordered. At the beginning of the book, Jax states that she should stay in town for her safety after the werewolf attack but with the advice of her dead parents with a note they wrote prior to their death saying that she should seek her aunt (that she never knew existed) if things started to go down she ends up doing that. she travels 5 ish hours from the home she has always known and the safety of her godmother since she has lived with since her parents supposed methlab explosion killed them when she was 16 to a magically hidden island in the Chicago area. there she finds out that she is magical too and her family that she is seeking out, the LaSalle's, are a family of sorcerer's that use blood magic and are rumored to dabble in the Dark arts ( how blood magic is not already considered dark art in general is beyond me) The Lasalle's have been in a feud with the werewolves on the island since the 1800s. To top it off and make the wound of the feud that much fresher the Lasalle's are accused of killing Jaxson's older sister with witchywoo stuff and wolfsbane within the past year. So of course there is forbidden sexual tension between Jax and Sav throughout the whole book because both family's think the other is hella dangerous. moving on...Sav gets to town and Jax being a rich alpha werewolf with a bunch of connections finds her immediately and takes her into town and tells her to stay in the motel room he has acquired for here in town since she disobeyed him and left Wisconsin. She ignores his request/ demand and goes to find her family anyway. There she meets her Aunt Laurel or Laura?? Uncle Pete (which welcomed her with open arms into their house but we dont know if we can fully trust them), and her cousin conner or carson or something like that( we currently trust him although he is kind chaotic and also always has a suspicious amount of wolfsbane available to him which is illegal and quite deadly to wolves) they do witchy woo things to bring her sorcerer powers out quickly which she feels simultaneously as sunshine and painful ice water ??? apparently everyone has a signature with their magic and the more powerful the stronger your signature scent is?? again IDK. skipping ahead because i simply do not care enough... basically the big bad wolf in the book is actually a sorcerer that is summoning blood demons (i either am forgetting why or the reasons for the the demons has yet to be explained yet) with blood magic and stealing/murdering humans around the midwest to feed the demons and letting the blame fall on the incompetencies of jaxson's pack. In actuality the evil sorcerer that we dont know the real identity of yet has fancy blood that is like wolf speed so he is using exiled wolves with drug problems (most of them having no affiliation to the Chicago Pack at all) to do his bidding as well as Billy, third in command enforcer? of the pack. Billy signed up to betray his pack to get revenge and kill all the lasalles family because jax's sister was his true mate and he went cuckoo banana nuts when she died (and like mention previously it is assumed that the lasalles were the one that killed her). Billy believes that Sav is the key to being able to kill all of the family and for some reason the sorcerer is specifically after Sav so wants to kill two birds with one stone by teaming up with him. Also another fun fact is apparently the sorcerer and Sav's blood taste very similar(can I get an EW) if you are to believe the high drugged up werewolf that captured sav and sam (another werewolf that is a part of the pack and is pretty nice to sav unlike the rest of the pack) towards the end of the book. They were caught in a trap that was set up because Jax asked Sav to Scrye the whereabouts of the evil drugged up wolves and the sorcerer/ billy ( which was acting as a mole at the time) knew they would see their base and try to go after it. Somehow Sav is able to break out of her chains after being caught and bleed almost dry, save sam and a witch that the exiled druggy pack accidentally kidnapped because they mistook her for Sav since she is a redhead with a tattoo on her L arm. Once out of the warehouse she instructed sam and the witch to run and tell Jax/the pack about Billy's betrayal and ti let the drugged up wolves / billy track after her. she ended up killing billy with her bare hands by herself (i am gonna guess that she is half wolf and it comes out at rando times with intense feelings because the author was really cagey about info on her mother and that would check out if mom was a part of the wolf pack so she felt like they couldn't live happily in Chicago with a half lasalle sorcerer /half werewolf baby so they moved to Wisconsin AND the fact that sav is slightly irritated by wolfsbane and does facial expressions that are kinda wolfy at times like bearing her teeth or "crazy eyes" that are apparently very convincing) . After all those events go down she looks a billys dead body and sees claw marks and her eyes glow gold like a wolf but convinces herself it was just her raw emotions and she was imaging things. Jax finds her in a field and because of their intense emotions during the end fighting scene they lose themselves and forget that their family's hate each other and start making out. sam fids them smooching hardcore and calls out Jax.They both fall out of the trance and Sav sees shame and regret in his features for kissing her so now she is convinced that she hates him and that he is a still a monster (really annoying to me honestly like he has been really nice to her this whole time but she still finds a way to villainies him because of his species ...like give dude a break girly pop). Anyway that is basically the end. Sam drives her home and on the way back she warns Savannah that she absolutely can not under any circumstance have a relationship with jax. the end. onto the next one!mrsgames2u's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Savannah is an average waitress from an average small town when one night she is attacked by werewolves. Jaxson Laraunt shows up to the scene to investigate and warn her to be careful. That sends her to Magic-side for answers and meet family she didn’t know she had.
Jaxson is alpha of the pack in Magic-side. There’s been some heat from “the order” due to recent disappearances. He meets Savannah while investigating her attack and it’s clear she doesn’t know anything about the magic world, although he can detect magic within her. He warns her and tells her not to leave town, but of course she doesn’t listen. What’s worse is when he follows her back to magic side and discovers she a Lasalle relative. His sworn enemy for their hand in his sisters murder. Despite that fact, he can’t stay away from her. He tells himself it’s because of the disappearances and luring out the criminals with her presence.
Savannah is clear headed enough to know that nothing is ever black and white. She shouldn’t fully trust her new family nor jaxson. Everyone has a hidden agenda and she seems to be right in the middle of it all.
This book is for you if you like a shifter romance, with forbidden love, dom/sub vibes, physical battles, and some mystery.
This book is not for you if you prefer standalone books, and hate a primal dom.
[Pros:]
•great slow burn : typically I do not like those but this author includes all the little things that really sell the tension. (Him scenting her arousal, locking eyes across the room, saying flirty things then immediately wanting to hide, etc)
•mystery is not faked: I mean that the moment the reader is like “I know that guy is a bad guy,” the author soon acknowledges that too. She doesn’t make us endure stupidity for mystery’s sake.
•world building: I love how it isn’t just werewolves. There’s mages, sorcerers, vamps, druids, demons etc. and they live fairly close to one another which means nuance friendships/business relations/enemies. My fav was the shared spaces….the weird places where all the magical beings had to interact and tolerate each other.
•Strong FMC: Although Jaxson is the alpha and can use a bit of persuasion on savannah, she often goes toe to toe with him. His persuasion isn’t as effective or long lasting as it is on others. This means she frustrates him with her hot headed nature, strong will, and impulsivity. She has a mind of her own while still gaining insight and comfort from Jaxson. It’s a rare but amazing dynamic for a shifter romance.
[Cons:]
•certain character development: overall we learn a lot about the characters, but I’m not sure why so much was left out about savannahs parents. I expected her to have more conversations with the Lasalles about them. If my parents died, then I found family who grew up with one of my parents, I would love just to sit and hear about the side of them I didn’t know or simply just speak about them with someone who loved them too. Idk. I’m sure there’s a reason but I thought we should’ve learned at least a little more.
•Lacking some detail: Jaxson worries that all of these issues will get back to “the order,” and they’ll make things difficult for their pack or disband them entirely. Aaaaand that’s all we know about them. Since they’re such a threat and alphas are bound by The Order’s laws, it would be nice to know •How many people are in this governing group? •. Is it just werewolves? • How does their system work? (do you get a trial? What infractions require their intervention? What are the punishments?) • Can anyone be a part of the order? Or only retired alphas?
Overall, this is one of the best shifter romances I’ve read, and I’ve read a ton. I know this will shock some people, but I’ve actually enjoyed this more than ACOTAR 🫢🫣
Jaxson is alpha of the pack in Magic-side. There’s been some heat from “the order” due to recent disappearances. He meets Savannah while investigating her attack and it’s clear she doesn’t know anything about the magic world, although he can detect magic within her. He warns her and tells her not to leave town, but of course she doesn’t listen. What’s worse is when he follows her back to magic side and discovers she a Lasalle relative. His sworn enemy for their hand in his sisters murder. Despite that fact, he can’t stay away from her. He tells himself it’s because of the disappearances and luring out the criminals with her presence.
Savannah is clear headed enough to know that nothing is ever black and white. She shouldn’t fully trust her new family nor jaxson. Everyone has a hidden agenda and she seems to be right in the middle of it all.
This book is for you if you like a shifter romance, with forbidden love, dom/sub vibes, physical battles, and some mystery.
This book is not for you if you prefer standalone books, and hate a primal dom.
[Pros:]
•great slow burn : typically I do not like those but this author includes all the little things that really sell the tension. (Him scenting her arousal, locking eyes across the room, saying flirty things then immediately wanting to hide, etc)
•mystery is not faked: I mean that the moment the reader is like “I know that guy is a bad guy,” the author soon acknowledges that too. She doesn’t make us endure stupidity for mystery’s sake.
•world building: I love how it isn’t just werewolves. There’s mages, sorcerers, vamps, druids, demons etc. and they live fairly close to one another which means nuance friendships/business relations/enemies. My fav was the shared spaces….the weird places where all the magical beings had to interact and tolerate each other.
•Strong FMC: Although Jaxson is the alpha and can use a bit of persuasion on savannah, she often goes toe to toe with him. His persuasion isn’t as effective or long lasting as it is on others. This means she frustrates him with her hot headed nature, strong will, and impulsivity. She has a mind of her own while still gaining insight and comfort from Jaxson. It’s a rare but amazing dynamic for a shifter romance.
[Cons:]
•certain character development: overall we learn a lot about the characters, but I’m not sure why so much was left out about savannahs parents. I expected her to have more conversations with the Lasalles about them. If my parents died, then I found family who grew up with one of my parents, I would love just to sit and hear about the side of them I didn’t know or simply just speak about them with someone who loved them too. Idk. I’m sure there’s a reason but I thought we should’ve learned at least a little more.
•Lacking some detail: Jaxson worries that all of these issues will get back to “the order,” and they’ll make things difficult for their pack or disband them entirely. Aaaaand that’s all we know about them. Since they’re such a threat and alphas are bound by The Order’s laws, it would be nice to know •How many people are in this governing group? •. Is it just werewolves? • How does their system work? (do you get a trial? What infractions require their intervention? What are the punishments?) • Can anyone be a part of the order? Or only retired alphas?
Overall, this is one of the best shifter romances I’ve read, and I’ve read a ton. I know this will shock some people, but I’ve actually enjoyed this more than ACOTAR 🫢🫣
chantal_readingwithcat's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
livingin_ficiton's review
2.0
DNF @60%
I don’t know what I can blame this on but I couldn’t even skim read this to complete it.
I’m bored to death. What’s going on?!
I don’t know what I can blame this on but I couldn’t even skim read this to complete it.
I’m bored to death. What’s going on?!
inge_oortwijn's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kirreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has magic and all sorts of magical creatures, completely oblivious non-magical folk and a hidden magical world. The main female character is sassy af and puts her foot in it but has her heart in the right place. The main male character is spicy and definitely used to getting his way, so the MFC really throws him for a loop.
Love the world, the relationships and the badassery. Highly recommend and can’t wait to read the next book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has magic and all sorts of magical creatures, completely oblivious non-magical folk and a hidden magical world. The main female character is sassy af and puts her foot in it but has her heart in the right place. The main male character is spicy and definitely used to getting his way, so the MFC really throws him for a loop.
Love the world, the relationships and the badassery. Highly recommend and can’t wait to read the next book!
hopeamarsu's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
toyboxtrash's review
4.0
So I feel like this book title doesn’t actually tell you the truth about the plot of this book. The title indicates that someone is marked by a wolf (I’d of bet because of mating like in most PNR books) but no one gets marked.
Honestly Savannah pissed me off at times, I was about ready to give up on this book when she was constantly disobeying orders and doing the exact opposite of what she was told. Her family in Magic Side seem pretty cool and there is a lot about Savannah that we don’t yet know. She didn’t learn to control her magic, we don’t know who is after her still but all we know is it is a sorcerer and we have seen glimpses of him in her scrys.
I usually love wolf shifters and their packs but this pack I really really hate. The twist being that they are pretending to be good guys but really they are only looking out to cover their own asses. They aren’t trustworthy and they lie a lot which is not normal of a wolf shifter.
I think it’s clear that Jaxson’s wolf likes Savannah and has yet to realise they are mates and it’s clear Savannah isn’t just a sorceress (lots of hints throughout the book that she is probably also part wolf like her nails hurting and itching, she escapes from tight bounds in the basement room, she slashes Billy and he doesn’t heal and her eyes glow golden honey In the river).
The world of Magic Side is really intriguing and I want to know what other bad blood is between Jaxson’s family and Savannahs family and how it all started. The book was a quick read and I am glad it’s in first person I always feel more invested when it’s written in first person. I am hoping we find out more in book 2 and have some answers and this book felt like it was just the set up to a much larger story and although there was a lot of action/fighting there wasn’t much in the way of steamy scenes between the 2 MC’s which I was disappointed in but I’m holding out hope for this to change in book 2, I hope Jaxson gets his head around things with Savannah like yeah their families have historical issues but they clearly need to get together. A bit Romeo and Juliet but the characters are more Badass.
Honestly Savannah pissed me off at times, I was about ready to give up on this book when she was constantly disobeying orders and doing the exact opposite of what she was told. Her family in Magic Side seem pretty cool and there is a lot about Savannah that we don’t yet know. She didn’t learn to control her magic, we don’t know who is after her still but all we know is it is a sorcerer and we have seen glimpses of him in her scrys.
I usually love wolf shifters and their packs but this pack I really really hate. The twist being that they are pretending to be good guys but really they are only looking out to cover their own asses. They aren’t trustworthy and they lie a lot which is not normal of a wolf shifter.
I think it’s clear that Jaxson’s wolf likes Savannah and has yet to realise they are mates and it’s clear Savannah isn’t just a sorceress (lots of hints throughout the book that she is probably also part wolf like her nails hurting and itching, she escapes from tight bounds in the basement room, she slashes Billy and he doesn’t heal and her eyes glow golden honey In the river).
The world of Magic Side is really intriguing and I want to know what other bad blood is between Jaxson’s family and Savannahs family and how it all started. The book was a quick read and I am glad it’s in first person I always feel more invested when it’s written in first person. I am hoping we find out more in book 2 and have some answers and this book felt like it was just the set up to a much larger story and although there was a lot of action/fighting there wasn’t much in the way of steamy scenes between the 2 MC’s which I was disappointed in but I’m holding out hope for this to change in book 2, I hope Jaxson gets his head around things with Savannah like yeah their families have historical issues but they clearly need to get together. A bit Romeo and Juliet but the characters are more Badass.